HAS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TAKEN A TOUGHER POSITION ON GAMBLING ADS?

3 August 2007

Sunday Times article suggests that restrictions could be imposed

A Sunday Times report over the weekend could give further evidence of a cooler British government attitude to gambling in general and advertising in particular.

The newspaper reports that secret talks have been ongoing between major gambling organisations and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport over proposals that advertisements for gambling should be subject to stricter controls, including a 9pm time limit that could result in a de facto prohibition on betting and gaming advertisements during the screening or broadcast of major sporting events.

Apparently the gambling industry handed a suggested Code of Conduct to control advertising, but the new culture secretary James Purnell was unhappy with it and suggested a stricter approach.

One unidentified industry insider told the newspaper that the industry had become a political football, and after the Prime Minister's apparent about face on the supercasino issue two weeks ago, this would appear to confirm that further negotiations with government could be in prospect, perhaps overturning commitments from the previous Cabinet.

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